This is a good discussion, but I take issue with several points you bring up.

- the housing shortage is acute now because of people's habits, not a sudden growth in population

- rent control reduces new construction as investment isn’t profitable, so it makes the housing crisis worse, not better; builders would build more houses and apartments if you would let them

https://www.brookings.edu/research/what-does-economic-evidence-tell-us-about-the-effects-of-rent-control/

- homes increase in value due to supply and demand, as the population grows, more people want to live somewhere (some will rent, some will own)

- I own several rental houses, all in good neighborhoods with great schools; my tenants would not be able to live in these neighborhoods and have their kids go to these schools if I did not rent these houses to them as they cannot afford to buy in these neighborhoods. They get better school because they rent, not the oppoise that you have proposed.

- Housing prices have gone up MUCH faster than rent, making renting an even better deal for people who want to get into expensive neighborhoods with good schools

- there are a lot of speculators in real estate, but real investors do not bid on houses and drive the prices up; I plan to own my houses for years and will only buy at a good price. I usually buy overlooked houses that have been on the market for a long time without being sold. Hard to imagine buying houses that no one else wants for good prices is pushing up housing costs

- you may want to read about the laws of eviction and late fees, as you seem to not understand what is legal (Nolo's "Every Landlord's Legal Guide" is a great place to start); landlords are required by law to provide safe and habitable property for renters, are limited in what late fees they can charge, and have a lot of issues to deal with to get an eviction. I bet if you do some work and don't get paid, you would want some legal way to try to get your money, right? Why are landlords different? Tenants are using a product, so they pay rent as agreed in a contract signed by all parties. You can't go to the store and drink milk from the aisle and walk out without paying, but somehow if the injured party is a landlord then its OK?

- property is still a great way for regular people to build wealth; I come from a simple, middle-class family and have managed to improve my financial situation by providing safe, affordable housing in good neighborhoods.